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Emphysema is a condition of the lungs where the walls of the alveoli basically lose their elastic properties due to damage to the alveolar walls. As a consequence of this, a person will receive abnormal enlargement of the alveoli, leading to a lower total surface area for gas exchange. Also, when the alveolar walls degrade, this causes holes to develop and alveoli to merge into huge air spaces.

The main cause of emphysema is smoking. This is because the chemical irritants in cigarette smoke damage the alveolar walls. The damage to the lung tissue causes phagocytes to produce an enzyme called elastase which is basically used to breakdown the elastic fibres in the alveolar wall.

There are no active cure that will end emphysema, but there are treatments to relieve symptoms or slow the disease down. For example, bronchodilators are commonly used to relax people's bronchiolar muscles, which in turn improves air flow. Additionally, corticosteroids can reduce the inflammation that breaks down the elastic fibres in the alveolar wall.

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Emphysema is a lung condition whereby the walls of the alveoli lose their elasticity due to damage to the alveolar walls

The loss of elasticity results in the abnormal enlargement of the alveoli, leading to a lower total surface area for gas exchange

The degradation of the alveolar walls can cause holes to develop and alveoli to merge into huge air spaces (pulmonary bullae)

Causes

The major cause of emphysema is smoking, as the chemical irritants in cigarette smoke damage the alveolar walls

The damage to lung tissue leads to the recruitment of phagocytes to the region, which produce an enzyme called elastase

This elastase, released as part of an inflammatory response, breaks down the elastic fibres in the alveolar wall

A small proportion of emphysema cases are due to a hereditary deficiency in this enzyme inhibitor due to a gene mutation

Treatments

There is no current cure for emphysema, but treatments are available to relieve symptoms and delay disease progression

Bronchodilators are commonly used to relax the bronchiolar muscles and improve airflow

Corticosteroids can reduce the inflammatory response that breaks down the elastic fibres in the alveolar wall

Elastase activity can be blocked by an enzyme inhibitor (α-1-antitrypsin), provided elastase concentrations are not too high

Oxygen supplementation will be required in the later stages of the disease to ensure adequate oxygen intake

In certain cases, surgery and alternative medicines have helped to decrease the severity of symptoms

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emphysema is a condition which causes the alveoli in the lungs to lose their elasticity, degrade, have holes and/or merge into huge air spaces. As a result, their is less surface area for gas exchange.

The major cause is smoking. Smoking causes tissues to be damaged leading to the recruitment of elastic. This elastase breaks down elastic fibers in the alveoli.

There is no cure for emphysema. There are ways to reduce symptoms.Corticosteroids reduce inflammatory symptoms. Elastase can be blocked using an enzyme inhibitor. Eventually, oxygen supplementation is needed and/or surgery.

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Emphysema is a condition that affects the walls of the alveoli in the lungs. With this disease, the lungs lose their elasticity due to an abnormal enlargement of the alveoli. This leads to a lower surface area for gas exchange in the luges.

One of the major causes of emphysema is smoking. During smoking, chemicals damage the lung tissues. When the tissues are damaged, elastase is recruited which breaks down the elastic fibers in the walls of the lungs. This causes little holes to develop in the lungs and makes it harder to breathe.

There is no current cure for emphysema. However, there are many treatments to reduce symptoms. One is "bronchodilators" which relax the bronchiolar muscles and improve airflow. Elastase activity can also by an enzyme inhibitor to reduce elastase activity. In the later stages of the illness, oxygen supplementation will also need to be used to ensure that the body is reaching adequate oxygen.

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Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It involves the loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs in the lung. The alveoli at the end of the bronchioles of the lung become enlarged because their walls break down or the air sacs are destroyed, narrowed, collapsed, stretched, or over-inflated. Having fewer and larger damaged sacs means there is a reduced surface area for the exchange of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of it. The damage is permanent. The ability to breathe properly cannot be fully recovered. Emphysema causes shortness of breath and a chronic cough. The main type of medication used for emphysema is inhaled bronchodilators to relieve symptoms. These help by relaxing and opening the air passages in the lungs. Other treatments include lung transplants, reduction of lung volume, etc.

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When the walls of the alveoli lose their elasticity because the alveolar walls have been damaged it causes a lung condition called emphysema. The alveoli normally grow in size, causing lower SA:V ratio, lower gas exchange. The damage in the alveolar walls can also cause enough damage to create holes and create very big air spaces called pulmonary bullae. One of the most important causes of emphysema is smoking. The damage caused by smoking in the lung tissue allow for phagocytes to cure the damaged tissue. Phagocytes then produce elastase, which breaks down the elastic fibers in the alveolar walls, reducing the elasticity of the alveoli. However, emphysema can also be hereditary, a mutation in the gene coding for this enzyme’s inhibitor. Unfortunately, there is no cure for emphysema currently, however, there are medications and treatments that can be used to relieve and delay the disease. A way to improve air flow and relax the bronchiolar muscles is by using bronchodilators. Corticosteroids can also reduce the production of elastase, while it’s activity can be blocked by enzyme inhibitor. In the most critical stages of the condition, oxygen supplementation is required. Finally, surgery and other medications can help relieve the symptoms.

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Emphysema is a lung condition that affects the lungs. The lungs have air sacs called alveoli which are crucial to gas exchange in the lungs. If a person has emphysema, the walls between these alveoli break down leading to an enlargement in their size causing breathlessness. As a consequence, this decreases the surface area for gas exchange which results in less oxygen intake in the bloodstream.
Some of the causes include smoking (tobacco), exposure to airborne irritants, and air pollution. This condition can also occur with chronic bronchitis as a part of the disease complex called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
As for treatments, this condition can't be fully cured. Patients with this should try to protect their lungs by avoiding smoking or breathing in second hand smoke. People with this condition may also be trained with breathing techniques that reduce their shortness of breath. For example, Oxygen therapy provides oxygen enriched air to the lungs. Lung transplants are also an option.

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Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It involves the loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs in the lung.

The alveoli at the end of the bronchioles of the lung become enlarged because their walls break down or the air sacs are destroyed, narrowed, collapsed, stretched, or over-inflated.

Having fewer and larger damaged sacs means there is a reduced surface area for the exchange of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of it.

Two of the key symptoms of emphysema are shortness of breath and a chronic cough. In later stages of the disease, people may experience frequent lung infections, wheezing, reduced appetite, fatigue, cyanosis due to lack of oxygen, sleep problems and morning headaches due to lack of oxygen when sleeping.
The main causes for the disease include smoking. Other risk factors may be due to a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-1-antitrypsin, air pollution, airway reactivity, heredity, sex, and age. Males tend to have it more.

The main type of medication used for emphysema are inhaled bronchodilators to relieve symptoms.
These help by relaxing and opening the air passages in the lungs. Some other drugs may be added to the inhalers in order to further alleviate symptoms, like the use of corticosteroid drugs (steroids).

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Emphysema is a chronic lung condition where alveoli become larger but decrease in number. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of emphysema. Smoking is responsible for 80-90% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema. Second-hand smoking can also cause emphysema. Infections of the respiratory tract can also destroy lung tissue and contribute to emphysema. Finally, uncontrollable factors such as heredity, aging, and air pollution can also contribute. When diagnosed with emphysema the person must quit smoking immediately. Other treatments are bronchodilators to help relax and open airways, antibiotics if there's an infection, exercise to help strengthen muscles, lung surgery or transplant, and oxygen therapy to increase the percentage of oxygen the body receives on each breath.

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Emphysema is a lung condition that results in shortness of breath. This occurs when the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs) are damaged. As time goes by, the inner walls of the alveoli start rupturing, creating large air spaces instead of many small ones. As a result, the surface area of the lungs is reduced and hence the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream. A person can get emphysema due to tobacco or marijuana smoke (including secondhand smoke), air pollution and chemical fumes and dust. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the patient with emphysema might get antibiotics (if there is a bacterial infection like pneumonia), inhaled steroids (which reduce inflammation) or bronchodilators (which help relieve coughing. Moreover, if it is a very severe case, the patient might need to get a surgery to reduce the lung’s volume or a lung transplant.

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Our lungs are made up of grape like sacs called Alveoli. Their round structure,the amount, and the surfactant that is secreted by the type 2 pneumocytes allow for a high surface area to volume ratio and a perfect place for gas exchange. Emphysema is caused by smoking, air pollution, and exposure to fumes which damage these tiny little sacs. Lung disease is caused by damage or bursting of the alveoli which decrease the area for oxygen to enter and inhibit fresh air from entering which directly causes decreased levels of oxygen in the blood, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest.  People who suffer emphysema can later develop heart issues because of the increased pressure in arteries that move blood from the heart to the lungs. Although can’t be fixed it can be treated through medications, oxygen therapy, and regular exercise. For serious conditions lung transplant or surgery to remove damaged tissue can be done.

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Is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The air sacs in the lungs become damaged and stretched. This results in a chronic cough and difficulty breathing.
Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke is the most common cause, but also exposure to chemical fumes but emphysema can also be genetic. There is no cure, but quitting smoking can stop emphysema from getting worse. Other treatment includes medications, the use of an inhaler, respiratory assistance and possibly surgery. Treatment does not halt or reverse lung damage, but it can ease symptoms and prevent attacks.

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Emphysema is a lung condition caused by damage to the alveoli. People with this condition have their alveoli ruptured or weakened, this creates larger air spaces, which reduces the surface area on the lungs and therefore the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream. The main causes for emphysema are air pollution, exposure to chemical fumes and tobacco smoke. Although emphysema can't be cured there are some treatment options, this include bronchodilators to help relax the constricted airways and inhaled steroids which reduces inflammation alleviating shortness of breathe. 

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Emphysema is a lung condition caused by damage to the alveoli. People with this condition have their alveoli ruptured or weakened, this creates larger air spaces, which reduces the surface area on the lungs and therefore the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream. The main causes for emphysema are air pollution, exposure to chemical fumes and tobacco smoke. Although emphysema can't be cured there are some treatment options, this include bronchodilators to help relax the constricted airways and inhaled steroids which reduces inflammation alleviating shortness of breathe. 

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Hello; teach us about Emphysema by clicking on the + button to add information.  Thank you.

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Hello; teach us about Emphysema by clicking on the + button to add information.  Thank you.

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Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is when the breathing tubes are narrowed and the air sacs (alveoli) are damaged. To understand Emphysema a bit more it should be known about "COPD". "COPD" is a common lung condition that includes Emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In Emphysema the breathing tubules (attachments that hold the breathing tubes open) are destroyed and result in the collapse of the breathing tubes when exhaling. The air sacs (alveoli ) wall's are destroyed causing enlargement. Emphysema affects the body by affecting the lungs and breathing. In the breathing tubes, there is a collapse of the breathing tubes which can cause incomplete emptying of air out of the lungs during exhalation. This trapped air prevents the diaphragm from working effectively and therefore making it harder to breathe. In the air sacs, the damage to the alveoli makes it harder for oxygen to pass through into the blood vessels. Oxygen levels in the body, as a result, is frequently reduced causing the person to breathe more as a means of the body to compensate. But, what are the causes? The main cause is cigarette smoking. Other causes include pollution, inhaling dust or fumes, and even inhaling smoke from indoor fires used for cooking or heating. To prevent Emphysema, it is advised that the individual restrains from smoking or inhaling smoke as much as possible.